Geelong Interfaith Network

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Geelong Interfaith Network.

Please contact us if you are going to attend a meeting.

(Please if you want to see all our events go to "Events". The events (all the religious celebrations, fast and feast days, plus other events) on the right side of this page may not be in order.) [Descriptions taken mostly from Wikipedia, without the pictures. Also, please forgive us if festivals mentioned seem to be mainly Hindu - this religion has been called the religion of Fasts, Feasts and Festivals.]

(Click on "Faith Information" to see a list of groups actively participating in the Geelong Interfaith Network.)

N.B. If anybody is interested in other religions an excellent place to start is with the book "THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS - Our Great Wisdom Traditions". It is in the Geelong Library and is very easy to read.

WHAT THE GEELONG INTERFAITH NETWORK IS AND IS NOT.

WHAT INTERFAITH IS.

WHAT INTERFAITH IS NOT.

1.It is an opportunity for dialogue and understanding.

1.It is not an opportunity for religious argument.

2.It is a way of living with mutual respect and tolerance.

2.It is not an opportunity for conversion and proselytisation.

3.It is positive recognition of different faiths and traditions.

3.It is not a forum for exclusive religious claims.

4.It is celebration of the individuality and identity of each tradition.

4.It is not a compromise of any individual faith tradition.

5.It is a forum to help redress injustice due to racial prejudice, religious bigotry and intolerance of disadvantaged minorities.

5.It is not a jealous guarding of acquired or presumed rights and privileges

6.It is a partnership of many faith communities and the City of Greater Geelong.

6.It is not the creation of any particular faith community.

. . .

VISION, AIMS, HISTORY and ACTIVITIES OF OUR GROUP

VISION

Recognising the ancient spirituality of the First People of this land, the Wathaurong, we commit ourselves to develop a spirit of mutual respect, trust and understanding between the diverse faith communities and traditions in Geelong.

We recognise and acknowledge the common human dignity and equality of all in our community, always repecting the diversity of beliefs, background, and particular national customs and values.

We seek to encourage full participa-tion in the whole life of the community of the City of Greater Geelong, and to celebrate the rich traditions and cultural heritage, of each faith group.

Together we offer to the City of Greater Geelong our common and united commitment to live and work together in peaceful co-operation for the well being of the whole community.

AIMS

To create mutual understanding between member groups, and within the wider community to which our groups belong.

To encourage acceptance of all faith traditions as members of the Geelong Community through understanding and educating the wider Community about their traditions, beliefs and values.

In a spirit of justice, love and peace sharing our common humanity, expressing our diverse spirituality in our community.

We proudly support and are actively involved in celebrating our rich cultural and religious diversity through:

§ Pako Festa

§ International Harmony Day

§ Our proud association with Diversitat.

We support aboriginal reconciliation through links to One Fire Reconciliation.

HISTORY

Ever since 9/11, Muslims have experienced and felt isolation and persecution in communities around Australia. So on the eve of war in 2003, the Monsignor James Murray had invited several representatives to pray for peace and understanding. Mayor Barbara Abley supported the initiative by allowing it to take place in the Geelong City Council offices.

After such a moving experience, a monthly meeting was organised and continues to today.

We continued there for about a year before moving to our present location at the Virginia Todd Centre in Geelong West.

Activities since then include:

Pako Festa each year

Visits to each others' faith venues

A Women's Friendship Group started

An annual stall at the Pako Festival

Voice of Interfaith on 94.7FM (last Thurs of the month at 3:30pm)

Geelong Interfaith Network joined in political and community leaders in the launch of the Multicultural Action Plan at the City of Greater Geelong council offices on 11th August 2011. It was great to see so many from our network there.

Some from the Network who were very visable were Vemma (French translation), Jenny (signing the circular mandala) and Dzejlav (Artist of the painting behind the Speakers)... (See our “Gallery of photographs).

Randall then caught up with a few youth present and invited them personally to the Service Project that was held on 3rd Sept, 2011. The Geelong Interfaith Network with UPF greeted the first Saturday in spring at the gardens of the Drol Kar Buddhist Center. We sought volunteers to help gardening while getting to know youth from other faith groups.

Prayers for Japan

The Geelong Interfaith Network is supporting the prayer requests for Japan in their time of need.

7 Minutes a day for 7 Days is one request.

The on-going problems will last longer than 7 days ...

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Mons James Murray wing was named at Merrivale Nursing Home in West Geelong. An honour well deserved by the Geelong Interfaith Network's chairman for his service in Geelong over the many years.

............................................................................................................................ N.B. There are some beautiful works of Art in Wikipedia connected to the Events detailed in this Website.

[N.B. Any person placing material deemed inappropriate for this site [ie. ads for Rolex watches!] will be blocked and their material removed from now on...]

During the August 2016 meeting, Geelong Interfaith Network discussed a statement about the proposed pebiscite about "Same Sex Marriage" (SSM). Click here for the link to that statement.
Many points of view were aired, but the conclusion was:
'However, all of us, in the G.I.N., would urge that “LGBTI” people in our society be treated with the dignity due to all human persons, and not marginalised, harassed, persecuted or discriminated against.'